Race Day: Ski to Sea

Experience the Ski to Sea Race from Baker to Bellingham

written by Corinne Whiting

With a stunning course that winds through Washington’s Whatcom County, the much-anticipated gathering happens annually on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. It draws racers, spectators and tourists from around the globe—and culminates in a massive party. “Ski to Sea is a truly iconic Northwest event,” race director Anna Rankin said. “This May will be our forty-sixth year!

The race has traditionally featured teams of eight competing in seven different sports: cross-country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, running, road bike, canoe (two paddlers), cyclocross bike and sea kayak. Beginning this year, racers can participate in up to three legs (for one team or multiple teams). Teams now consist of a minimum of three racers and a maximum of eight.

The 96-mile course breaks down like this—a 4-mile cross-country ski starts the course, followed by a 2.5-mile downhill ski or snowboard. After an 8-mile run, racers complete a 42-mile bike leg. The fifth leg is a two-person, 18.5-mile canoe trip, followed by a 14-mile cyclocross bike leg and finishing with a 5-mile sea kayak journey.

Bellingham resident Fred Schacht has participated six times, always as a runner. “The race is cool for a lot of reasons,” he explained, “but the team concept is a big one. Add to that the fact that the participants will range from super-novice and weekenders to Olympic-caliber athletes.”

Schacht said the sign-up process is fairly straightforward—the team captain goes online to register team members and pay the fee. (The registration system, built in-house and tailor-made for the race, proves easy for captains and racers to navigate.) “Preparation for race day can be significant or absolutely nothing, as some people jump on a team at the last minute to cover for someone who became injured,” Schacht said. “With that said, lots of team participants take the event and the training process very seriously. They know they are not going to finish anywhere at the top of the stack, but they want to perform their best regardless.”

“Many people train for months to beat their personal best or another team or simply just to finish (a goal for all teams),” Rankin said. ”All of the legs are pretty lengthy. I never recommend that people do the race without any training, but it does happen.”

Schacht believes the event showcases what many residents find so special about their region: the natural beauty and its accessibility, the adventurous lifestyle and commitment to personal fitness. “Regardless of how you do,” he said, “the hard work ends and you go somewhere to celebrate with your teammates and families, tell your war stories, drink some beer.”

The 96-mile course breaks down like this—a 4-mile cross-country ski starts the course, followed by a 2.5-mile downhill ski or snowboard. After an 8-mile run, racers complete a 42-mile bike leg. The fifth leg is a two-person, 18.5-mile canoe trip, followed by a 14-mile cyclocross bike leg and finishing with a 5-mile sea kayak journey.

TIPS FOR SPECTATORS

The course runs through the towns of Glacier, Maple Falls, Kendall, Everson, Lynden and Ferndale, finishing in Bellingham’s beautiful Marine Park. Here, enthusiastic spectators wait on the beach and along the finish-line chute; the festive gathering features the Boundary Bay beer garden plus local food vendors and sponsor booths. Attendees will find giveaways, a photo booth and merchandise for sale. “By 2 p.m., the Beer Garden is full and stays that way until we close at 7 p.m.,” race director Anna Rankin said. During a 5 p.m. awards ceremony, the top three teams in each division receive plaques. Tip: to avoid parking woes, take public transportation or ride your bike. A separate festival enlivens the town of Fairhaven (eight to ten blocks from the finish line). Two other spots for spectating: Zuanich Park, where the cyclocross to kayak hand-off takes place, and Hovander Park (technically in Ferndale), where the canoe team comes in and the cyclocross biker completes a few obstacles before riding to Bellingham. Parking can be difficult at Zuanich, yet remains plentiful at
Hovander.